UConn vs. Texas A&M Women's Basketball Preview Glance

By JOHN NASH Hour Staff writer

Published
7:00 pm EST, Sunday, December 4, 2011

Jimmy V Classic

Texas A&M and UConn

WHEN: Tonight, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

WHERE: XL Center, Hartford

THE MATCHUP: The second-ranked Huskies, 7-0, are back in action after almost a full week off. The Huskies last played on Nov. 30 when they routed Towson by 61 points, 92-31. Needless to say, Texas A&M is no Towson. The Aggies are the defending NCAA Women's Basketball Champions (ranked 4th in the Coaches' Poll, 8th by AP), and are 6-1 this season and coming off their first defeat, a 60-51 loss at Purdue.

UCONN: The Huskies have already handled the first major test on their scheduled when they defeated Stanford, 68-58, back on Nov. 21. After sweeping the World Vision Classic, where it was apparent to everybody with eye-sight that none of the teams should have been on the same court as UConn, the Huskies now host a very good Aggies team. Once again, UConn fans will get to bask in the glow of freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, whose 25-point effort against the Cardinal is the stuff legends are made of. What will she do against A&M? Stay tuned. If the rookie does have an off night, there are still plenty of veteran Huskies to back her up, including senior Tiffany Hayes (14.4 ppg, team-high 6.3 rpg) and sophomores Bria Hartley (15 ppg) and Stefanie Dolson (10.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 62 percent from the floor). Caroline Doty and Kelly Faris are the other two Huskies who have started all seven games as KML -- who is averaging a team-high 16.3 ppg -- has been coming off the bench.

TEXAS A&M: Four seniors are gone from last year's team, which knocked off Notre Dame in the title game last spring. The Aggies still like to pressure all over the court and will look to do so against the Huskies -- which could very well be their undoing. Defensively, the Huskies will have to be just as strong as Texas A&M doesn't have the go-to player of yesteryear, but instead have four players who are averaging 13.4 to 12.3 points per game in a balanced effort. The Aggies have also out-rebounded opponents by seven boards per game. Six-foot-four center Kelsey Bone (13.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg) leads the effort while Adaora Elonu (12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Tyra White (12.4 ppg) and Sydney Carter (12.3 ppg) are all experienced players with Bone the lone junior, the rest seniors.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Doty. The redshirt junior guard, who has recovered from three knee injuries over the course of her career, suffered a mild concussion the last time the Huskies played and was even held out a practice last week as a precaution. She is as tough as nails, and a heady player, making her noggin that much more important.